You simply cannot help but pull for Braves utilityman Peter Orr, a member of the spring 40-man roster who has a shot to make the 25-man, regular-season roster.

Chances are, if you attempt to hold back, you'll wind up looking something like Ryan Langerhans in the end any way.

Langerhans, who has come up through the minors with Orr, was shouting and pumping his fists Monday when Orr hit a three-run homer to seal a win against the Mets.

"I was on the top step looking like a cheerleader jumping up and down," said Langerhans, who roomed with Orr last season at Class AAA Richmond. "I wouldn't be happier if I had done it myself."

That moment of unbridled joy symbolizes a sentiment that runs through the Braves' organization, top to bottom: People, almost inherently, pull for Peter Orr.

"How can you not?" first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "He's a guy you want on the bench, in the field, in the clubhouse. He's just a great guy. One of the best teammates I've ever had."

The easygoing Canadian is hopeful he can be LaRoche's teammate again - this time in Atlanta.

He hasn't had too much offensive production to speak of besides the home run (2-for-11 in seven games), but defensively, he's been steady. His diving stab behind Tim Hudson on Monday helped maintain the starters' streak of scoreless innings (now at 17). Two days earlier, he turned a slick double play to close out a win against the Astros.

"We'll see. I just try not to think about it too much," Orr said. "I hope they're still considering me, but I don't know. I've just got to do the best I can to make them have to make a tough decision."

Or make a tough decision easy.

Orr's versatility could do that. Second and short are his best positions, but LaRoche said he can "literally play all nine positions."

His Triple-A manager, Pat Kelly, said it's more like seven, but you get the gist: Short of catcher and pitcher, he'd throw Orr out there anywhere with no perspiration expelled.

"When he played third base, he was my best third baseman," Kelly said. "When he played shortstop, he was my best shortstop. When he played second, he was my best second baseman. When he played left field, he was my best left fielder.

"Peter can play wherever they need him, and they won't miss a beat."

Kelly said, frankly, he wasn't sure of the breadth of Orr's ability until 2004, when he received the opportunity to play on an everyday basis.

In the four seasons prior, Orr was buried under prospects such as Wilson Betemit and Nick Green.

"I didn't think he was going to get a true shot to play every day," LaRoche said. "I thought he was always going to be a backup."

His shot came when Green was called up to replace Marcus Giles, when Giles broke his collarbone in a collision with Andruw Jones. From that point on, Orr figured something out.

He'd never hit above .250 for a season, but finished .315 in 115 games with the R-Braves. He also stole 24 bases.

"He's an interesting kid," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "He came a long way last year."

And his success extended beyond the borders of this country. Orr took a break from the team during the summer to represent Canada in the Olympics. In Athens, the Richmond Hill, Ontario, native hit .353 with eight RBI and was named the team's MVP. He also excelled in a Venezuelan winter league in a rare invite for infielders.

"It was a terrific year for him," Kelly said, adding that he sort of felt bad that he hadn't found an everyday spot for Orr sooner.

"We pigeonhole people in this game. We kind of say this is what they're going to be, what we project them to be. ... It makes you think as an instructor, not to push those guys off just because they're in a backup role."

Kelly compared Orr's workmanlike approach to that of outfielder Charles Thomas, who was called up last season and wound up being a part of the Tim Hudson deal with Oakland.

Both players, Kelly said, had no qualms flying down the line to beat an infield dribbler or to pick up bunt hits with great frequency.

"He's kind of a throwback type player," Kelly said. "We don't see that many of those guys nowadays. They're fun to see."

And fun to have a rooting interest in. Even if it means your team would be without him.

"Pete's such a great kid. Heck, yeah, you root for him," Kelly said. "You hope he makes the club."